Diarrhea for several days. The main causes of prolonged diarrhea

With absence timely treatment, diarrhea can progress to chronic form. What to do if your stomach is constantly bubbling and diarrhea has not stopped for several weeks? Choice correct option treatment depends on the cause of the disease.

Causes prolonged diarrhea

There are several causes of prolonged diarrhea:

The composition and quantitative ratio of bacteria in the intestine affects the digestion process. Reception antibacterial drugs leads to violation normal microflora.

Antibiotics destroy lactobacilli, coli and bifidobacteria, which are directly involved in the process of digestion. The cause of dysbacteriosis may be a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet.

The disease leads to impaired absorption of fluid and nutrients. Lack of timely treatment can lead to enterocolitis.

Prolonged diarrhea can be a sign of pancreatic pathologies. With greatly reduced production of enzymes involved in the process of digestion.

The risk group includes people who are chronic alcoholics. Inflammatory process may start after drinking ethanol.

Pancreatitis is found in people who eat too much fat. Constant overeating greatly complicates the work of the pancreas. Not fully digested food enters the intestines of a sick person. As a result, the patient begins to ferment immediately after eating.

In this case, the active reproduction of bacteria occurs. In the liquid stool of the patient, pieces of poorly digested food can be seen. This phenomenon is called creatorrhoea. Steatorrhea indicates the presence of undigested neutral fat in the feces. Fat, covering the walls of the intestine, makes it slippery, and this provokes diarrhea.

diarrhea in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis affects the tissues of the large intestine. The patient not only becomes inflamed mucous membranes, but also ulcers form. Most patients are young people between the ages of 20 and 35. Patients complain of the following symptoms:

clots of blood and mucus appear in the feces;
the lower abdomen begins to hurt;
a person feels rumbling in the stomach and diarrhea does not go away after taking antidiarrheal drugs;
the patient feels discomfort and swelling;
a person is forced to go to the toilet more than 2 times a day;
weight loss occurs.

Crohn's disease

The disease leads to inflammation of the mucous membranes digestive system. This damages the tissues of the small intestine.

There are 3 degrees of severity of Crohn's disease:

The initial stage of the disease is accompanied by a slight increase in stool. Blood in the patient's stool is very rare.
sign medium degree severity is an increase in the frequency of stools up to 6 times a day. There are traces of blood in the patient's stool.
The last degree leads to more severe complications. In many patients, bleeding and fistulas can be detected.

The disease affects people under the age of 35. The patient has characteristic symptoms:

aching pain in the abdomen;
a person complains of weakness;
bloody diarrhea begins, with a frequency of up to 10 times a day.

When the worm multiplies in the body, the patient feels:

Cramping pains appear in the abdomen.
The patient (most often a child) suffers from diarrhea and flatulence;
Constant rumbling in the stomach and diarrhea does not stop for more than a week.
The disease leads to increased gas formation.

A distinctive feature of such diarrhea is the absence of blood and mucus in the feces.

When infected with salmonella, feces acquire a characteristic. Salmonellosis is a dangerous intestinal infection that can lead to dehydration, infectious toxic shock, and even death. Liquid diarrhea gray color can be seen in patients with pathologies of the pancreas.

Colonoscopy

The examination of the patient includes the following procedures:

Colonoscopy allows you to evaluate the surface of the large intestine of the patient. Based on the data obtained, experts draw conclusions about various diseases- ulcers, diverticula, polyps, bleeding, tumors.
Bakposev ( bacteriological examination) is used to detect pure bacterial cultures.
During proctological examination you can learn about cracks and fistulas in the colon.
No less valuable information can be obtained with rectomanoscopy. With the help of an endoscope, specialists examine the mucous membranes of different parts of the intestine. .
If additional questions arise, the patient can be referred for an irrigoscopy. The procedure consists in examining the large intestine using a radiopaque substance. The method allows you to determine the condition of the mucous membranes, the presence of tumors and damage.
Thanks to ultrasound abdominal cavity early detection of inflammation various departments digestive tract. Doctors evaluate the work of the pancreas, stomach and intestines.

Treatment for prolonged diarrhea

Loose stools are not a disease. This is a syndrome, and it just indicates a disorder in the digestive system, which can occur for various reasons.

Antibiotics are used to treat diarrhea associated with bacterial infection.

Decoction of blackberries

You can get rid of diarrhea with blackberry sprigs. Before preparing the broth, they must be cut into small pieces. Fill in st. a spoonful of raw materials with a glass of water and cook for 15 minutes. Ready broth can be replaced with tea. Within 3 days after the start of drinking blackberry broth, you will notice an improvement in your condition.

Potentilla root can be used to treat chronic diarrhea. Pour 100 grams of raw materials into a liter of water and cook for 20 minutes over low heat. The solution helps with bloody diarrhea that does not go away for a long time.

Chronic diarrhea can begin due to various long-term diseases of the digestive system. Often such diarrhea does not go away for several weeks, causing a lot of inconvenience to the patient, although it is not accompanied by symptoms of intoxication and fever.

What is the danger of prolonged diarrhea?

With diarrhea, the stool becomes more liquid. causes dehydration of the body. The lack of fluid, vitamins and minerals affects the work of all organs.

A person gradually loses strength, with prolonged diarrhea, calcium and phosphorus are lost, which is necessary for bone tissue.

If diarrhea does not go away for a week or longer, then this indicates a possible infection. viral infections such as rotavirus diarrhea. The patient loses his appetite, attacks of vomiting and nausea begin. Chronic diarrhea is a sign of serious illnesses some internal organs.

People with pancreatic pathology suffer from indigestion. Patients present with pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. Patients complain of pain, weakness and intolerance to fatty and meat foods. Indigestion may last for several months.

To reduce the production of mucus, the patient is recommended to take anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Indomethacin), but in a very short course - no longer than 3 days.

Chronic diarrhea can be caused by Crohn's disease. In some cases, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment hormonal drugs(Metipred, Prednisolone).

Chronic diarrhea can often begin due to the development of diseases of the digestive system. Pathology of the liver and pancreas lead to a deficiency of enzymes that take part in the process of digestion of food. In this case, in the patient's stool, you can see pieces of not fully digested meat fibers (the phenomenon of creatorrhea).

You can compensate for the lack of enzymes with drugs such as Creon.

To reduce the frequency of bowel movements, antidiarrheal drugs are used. Among them are , . However, these drugs should not be taken for intestinal infections.

Treatment for prolonged diarrhea

This complicates the treatment of diarrhea, since some of the pathogens will remain in the body longer. Somatostatin and Octreotide are used to reduce bowel activity. But these are serious drugs, and only a doctor prescribes them, and they are expensive: for example, the cost of packing 5 ampoules of Octreotide for subcutaneous injection is 2000 rubles. They help with spasms in the intestines (Papaverine,).

After testing, pathogens are detected in some patients intestinal diseases. To destroy bacteria, the patient is prescribed antibiotics. However, they do not cause any harm to viral infections.

Diarrhea brings a lot of inconvenience. By accompanying symptoms can potentially be distinguished dangerous state from ordinary poisoning and understand what to do if the diarrhea does not go away.

When diarrhea does not stop within a week, the resulting dehydration becomes dangerous for a person. There is a sharp weight loss, during this period it is very important to control the amount of urination. Anxiety is:

change in color and concentration of urine;
break between urination at 8 hours.

On the background general condition the patient develops:

disorientation;
depression;
nervousness;
dry mucous membranes;
dizziness.

Persistent diarrhea can cause coma and even death. Therefore, in the absence of positive dynamics, you should immediately seek professional help.

Causes

Prolonged diarrhea can be triggered by the following diseases:

salmonellosis;
intestinal infection;
exacerbation of chronic diseases CT (colitis, dysbacteriosis, etc.);
enzyme deficiency;
dysentery;
intestinal tuberculosis.

What to do

The decision on treatment is made after the analysis clinical picture. lingering diarrhea accompanied by certain symptoms that have their own causes of development. Based on this information, a decision is made on subsequent therapy.

Diarrhea with nausea

It develops against the background of the following conditions:

poisoning;
dry food;
binge eating;
digestive disorders;
gallbladder dyskinesia.

The first action will be gastric lavage. For this, the patient is seated near the pelvis and allowed to drink 2 liters of warm water in one gulp. If you drink the liquid in small sips, it will be absorbed by the body and there will be no desired effect. You can additionally stimulate the root of the tongue with your finger. It is necessary to ensure that in the vomit, in addition to water, there are food residues. The procedure is repeated until all the food comes out.

To speed up the process, you can add a tablespoon of salt or soda to the water. It is better not to use potassium permanganate: its concentration is difficult to track, and in case of an overdose, the patient may get a mucosal burn. After washing, the patient must take the sorbent. If the condition does not improve, you need to call an ambulance.

Temperature with diarrhea

Manifested at infectious diseases or even a simple cold. The diagnosis is established by the total set of symptoms. To improve the patient's condition, it is recommended:

Drink plenty of fluids. Drinks should be unsweetened, warm and non-carbonated. Good poisons help medicinal herbs- chamomile, St. John's wort, wild rose, mint. Vomiting does not need to be controlled - it brings relief.
At the time of treatment, a diet must be observed. No fatty, fried foods. Pickles, spicy, smoked and sweets are prohibited. A fasting day is recommended.
Follow the chair. Seek medical attention immediately if traces of blood appear.

Diarrhea with blood

Blood traces in the feces can indicate certain pathologies in the body:

cracks anus, haemorrhoids. There are streaks or fresh blood clots in the stool.
The dark color of the excrement indicates the presence of a stomach ulcer or hidden bleeding of the digestive tract.
Blood may appear in acute bacterial infection- cholera, salmonellosis, dysentery.

You cannot self-medicate. Blood does not just appear in the stool. It is necessary to diagnose and determine the cause of the symptom. For infections, drugs of the fluoroquinolone group are prescribed.

Diarrhea with vomiting

This combination is typical for food poisoning. Accompanied by dizziness, abdominal cramps, weakness throughout the body. It develops 2 hours after poor quality food, bacterial infection, toxic poisons enter the body.

Healing steps:

Rinse the stomach after vomiting.
Take an absorbent (activated carbon, Polysorb, Sorbex, etc.).
Refuse to eat, drink a large number of liquids.
If a bacterial infection is detected, a course of antibiotics is prescribed.

You can restore power after 1.5 days. First, the patient is offered crackers with tea, then porridge on the water, low-fat soups, cottage cheese, boiled eggs are introduced into the diet.

severe diarrhea

Occurs with infectious diseases - salmonellosis, dysentery. Requires treatment in an infectious disease hospital. Complex of drugs:

antibiotics ("Tetracycline", "Ampicillin");
nitrofuran drugs ("Furazolin", etc.);
sulfa drugs.

The patient is put on a light diet. Boiled or steam food, spices, fresh bread, fiber, dairy products are excluded. Allowed cereals, eggs, vegetable and cereal soups.

Abdominal pain

Talks about enterocolitis, colic, overeating or gastritis. Fasting is recommended during the day, then the patient is prescribed table number 4. In infectious cases, antibiotics are prescribed. With functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, antispasmodics are taken - No-shpu, Drotaverin, etc. Patients with an ulcer can starve only under the supervision of a doctor.

Video "How to treat persistent diarrhea"

From this video you will learn what causes prolonged diarrhea and how to deal with it.

If single liquid stool does not cause severe inconvenience, then incessant diarrhea can ruin life for a long time. There are a lot of reasons for such a disorder, they need to be known and able to be treated.

Reasons for the duration of diarrhea

Short-term liquefaction of the stool, as a rule, does not cause concern. It is often associated with a small error in nutrition or with eating stale foods. However, if the diarrhea is prolonged, it is necessary to find out the nature of its duration, start treatment.

Danger signs

Common companions of diarrhea are discomfort in the form of swelling and rumbling in the stomach. Painful cramps and even an increase in body temperature may also occur. All this, as a rule, passes by itself, as soon as it is possible to stop the liquefaction of the stool. However, there are more serious indicators that indicate the need for immediate medical attention:

significant weight loss;
feces acquire a different color;
the presence of mucous and blood inclusions in the feces;
painful cramps in the abdomen, which are difficult to endure;
purulent discharge;
nausea up to vomiting;
pain in the anus;
the presence of undigested food in the mass of feces;
dehydration or prolonged interval between trips to the toilet to empty Bladder. At the same time, urine is excreted in a negligible amount and becomes dark. In addition to this, on critical situation organism, which can lead to the development of coma and even death, indicate dry mouth, convulsions, depression, decreased performance, irritability, general weakness. The patient is dizzy, tears do not flow, coordination is lost, the pulse quickens.

Why does persistent vomiting and diarrhea occur?

Diarrhea of a protracted nature, also with vomiting, of course, creates severe discomfort for a person. There are reasons for this. Mainly pathological conditions and ailments that should be identified and treated.

Symptoms of gastric upset with nausea, accompanied by fever and gurgling sounds in the abdomen, indicate food poisoning. You can help by holding a gastric lavage and taking sorbent drugs (Polifan, Polysorb and others). It will not be superfluous to restore water and electrolyte balance, taking Disol, Trisol and other saline solutions.
Symptoms of the intestinal flu are manifestations severe nausea, and diarrhea, which is accompanied by general weakness. Treatment of such a pathology will require antibiotics.
Gastric flu also occurs with the presence strong manifestations loose stools and regular emptying of the stomach through the mouth. The treatment of this disease of a viral nature has not yet been developed, therefore a sparing diet is recommended, plentiful drink and intake of enterosorbents.
White diarrhea, dark-colored vomit and urine, and noticeable yellowness skin indicate viral hepatitis. Urgent hospitalization required.
All the same symptoms are present in a patient with the development of duodenal / stomach ulcers, gastritis, chronic hepatitis, cholecystitis and pancreatitis. To completely eliminate problematic symptoms (diarrhea / nausea), the underlying disease requires treatment. To alleviate the condition, you can use an antiemetic (Cerukal), antidiarrheal (Loperamide) and any sorbent preparation.
Indomitable urge to defecate and severe vomiting can be pursued when the concentration of ketone / acetone bodies in the blood rises significantly. In such a situation, the patient needs to eat some rich in carbohydrates food and call a doctor immediately.
Malfunctions of the central nervous system as a consequence of severe stress or syndrome chronic fatigue pathologically affect the work of almost all internal organs, especially the digestive system. In this state, the development of diarrhea / nausea and vomiting will not take long.

Treatment

Medications

An integrated approach to the treatment of prolonged diarrhea involves the appointment of a patient with a range of drugs of various kinds.

For diseases of an infectious nature, enzyme agents are shown: Festal, Creon, Mezim.
With increased intestinal motility and its irritated condition, a drug that reduces peristalsis will help to cope with diarrhea: Imodium, Lopedium.
Due to poisoning, diarrhea is eliminated by gastric lavage, which is carried out with a solution of water with pale pink potassium permanganate.
Diarrhea of a medicinal nature is easily eliminated with the use of the drug Linex.
Popular antidiarrheal medications include:

Sorbent preparations: Smecta, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Neointestopan, Kaopektat,
Biotic agents: Enterol, Hilak forte, Eubicor, Baktisubtil, Bifidumbacterin.
Intestinal antiseptics: Nifuroxazide, Intetrix, Ercefuril, Ecofuril, Enterofuril.
Painful spasms associated with loose stools will help relieve: No-shpa and Papaverine.
Restore broken water-salt balance You can take Regidron and Gastrolit.

Folk remedies

These methods of treatment can be considered as an auxiliary variant of drug therapy.

Prepare a decoction of blueberries and drink throughout the day in the form of tea. No more than five berries are taken per glass of boiling water and boiled for several minutes. Drink to take cooled and filtered.
Before eating, drink a decoction of St. John's wort, which is prepared by boiling, 30 minutes before meals. In a glass of water, 1 tablespoon of dry medicinal raw materials. Boil for a quarter of an hour.
Boil two glasses of water with the addition of a few mint leaves in any form. Infuse the decoction for an hour. Drink strained after meals several times a day.
Before meals, several times a day, drink a decoction of thyme for half a glass. Cook for 25 minutes a tablespoon of dry leaves of the plant in two glasses of water. Be sure to chill and strain.
Well-mixed potato starch (2 tablespoons) warm water(1 glass). Drink half a glass several times a day.
In a glass of water, boil chamomile (tablespoon) for a quarter of an hour. Cooled and filtered broth take half a glass before meals for fifteen minutes.
Dry the pomegranate peels and grind. For two glasses of water take 3 large spoons raw materials and boil for twenty minutes. After cooling and straining, take three tablespoons thirty minutes before meals.
Soak a tablespoon of oak bark in a glass of boiling water and insist for an hour. Strained infusion to drink all day in small sips.
Boil dried berries (1 spoon) and a glass of water. Strain and drink in small sips all day in a warm form.

Diet

To reduce the load on the gastrointestinal tract, a diet is prescribed. It should refrain from eating:

raw fruits/vegetables;
mushrooms;
spices;
smoked meats;
spices;
marinades;
coffee;
conservation;
dark breads;
baking / confectionery delights;
excess salt;
juices;
semi-finished products;
fried foods;
milk;
legumes;
fatty food;
sweet sodas.

It is recommended to include in the diet:

more crackers from white bread;
boiled eggs / steam omelettes;
low-fat cottage cheese;
vegetable broths;
porridge on the water;
baked apples;
meat / fish of non-fatty varieties;
dietary soups (on the second broth).

All light diet meals are preferably prepared by baking, boiling and steaming. The exception is cooking by frying.

Prevention

Preventive measures can safely avoid intestinal disorders:

wash hands before eating;
cautiously try unfamiliar foods;
thoroughly clean and rinse fruits / vegetables in running water;
carefully monitor the expiration date of the products and observe the conditions of their storage and maintenance.

Almost every person has experienced such a problem as diarrhea. But what to do if diarrhea does not go away for a week in an adult?

Description of the disease

Diarrhea is the condition of a person in which loose stools are released several times a day. This state has 2 forms:

acute. Diarrhea may not stop for up to two weeks;
chronic. Diarrhea may last more than two weeks.

Diarrhea is not considered separate disease. Rather, it is a symptom that indicates some kind of malfunction. gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can be caused different reasons. It manifests itself in adults and children. The condition is unpleasant, brings a lot of discomfort if it occurs in adults. But, if it is observed in a child, parents are overwhelmed with anxiety and not in vain.

You can ignore the malaise that lasts 1 - 2 days, but if the diarrhea cannot stop on the 6th day, you need to contact a specialist. If you do not seek help in a timely manner, various complications can occur. It is very important to know for what reason there is prolonged diarrhea, how to get rid of diarrhea.

If there is no pain in the stomach in the presence, then the body cleanses the gastrointestinal tract on its own from toxins, mucus, decay products that accumulate after stagnation inside the tract. Such a functional disorder may pass on the second day after dieting. If diarrhea persists for 4 days or more, contact a specialist.

Why does diarrhea occur?

Diarrhea that lasts 1 to 2 days without pain can be caused by:

food poisoning;
alcohol poisoning.

Loose stools for 1, 2, 3 days can be observed during pregnancy, menstruation. The body is cleansed, then the work of the digestive tract is adjusted.

May be:

neurosis;
food poisoning;
intolerance certain products nutrition;
acclimatization of the body;
long-term medication (anticoagulants, laxatives, synthetic sweeteners, antiarrhythmic drugs).

Diarrhea due to one of given reasons, passes very quickly, literally in 3 - 4 days. If diarrhea was caused by one of these factors, it will not be difficult for you to calculate it. If the stool disorder does not go away after 3-4 days, seek help from a specialist.

Weekly diarrhea may indicate one of the following diseases:

intestinal infection (rotavirus, influenza, cholera);
dysentery;
intestinal tuberculosis;
salmonellosis;
exacerbation of the existing chronic illness(dysbacteriosis, colitis);
enzyme deficiency.

Features of diarrhea provoked by various factors

With diarrhea, the following processes occur in the body:

increased excretion of salts, water into the intestinal cavity;
failures in the process of absorption of food (digested) from the intestinal cavity;
accelerated intestinal peristalsis;
indigestion of food.

OKI. diarrhea caused by acute intestinal infections, occurs due to the influence of various microorganisms on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Microbes produce toxins that paralyze the intestines. Usually in AII, diarrhea is sharp shape, sometimes it develops into chronic (with dysentery).

Dysbacteriosis. It is characterized by a violation of the normal intestinal microflora (there is an increase in bacteria that are not characteristic of the intestinal microflora, a decrease in the number of "useful" microbes. Diarrhea is characterized chronic course. Diarrhea may last three days or more.

Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can last all day various diseases gastrointestinal tract:

chronic enteritis;
Crohn's disease;
chronic colitis;
ulcerative colitis.

The risk of prolonged diarrhea in a child

If diarrhea is not in an adult, but in a child, you need to be careful. If diarrhea is severe and lasts 2, 3, 4 days, signs of dehydration may appear. This condition is dangerous by the occurrence of dysfunction of all internal organs. When does diarrhea occur? long time the child needs to carefully monitor his condition, any changes, deviations from the norm. The doctor must be called in the case when the diarrhea does not stop for several days, there are pains in the abdomen.

If, dehydration occurs, which is not safe, especially for child's body. The child may lose about 3% of the weight. To determine the moisture balance, you should monitor the frequency, amount of urination. anxiety symptoms are:

darkening of urine;
concentrated urine;
long breaks between urination (more than 8 hours).

In this case, the patient is observed:

nervousness;
dry mouth;
dizziness;
depression;
orientation disorder.

If diarrhea does not stop within a week, it can lead to coma, lethal outcome without timely treatment. You should not postpone going to a specialist if the child has a greenish color of the secreted liquid.

First aid for diarrhea

If you have prolonged diarrhea, you need to visit a specialist to determine the cause of its occurrence, selection suitable treatment. should be the impetus for making a decision about diagnosis, treatment. You don't have to endure diarrhea every day. You can try to eliminate this unpleasant symptom yourself, for this you need:

Take a sorbent preparation ("Smekta", " Activated carbon”, “Filtrum-Stee”).
Use more water(boiled), weak weak tea. This will help avoid dehydration.
To restore the supply of lost nutrients, minerals, vitamins, it is recommended to drink herbal teas. In the presence of temperature, it is useful to drink tea with currants, linden.
Cleansing enema (it can be delivered 1 time). Through a cleansing enema, we remove bacteria from the intestines. Also, this procedure helps to lower the temperature due to the absorption of water into the walls of the intestine.

The need for a diet for diarrhea

Diet for diarrhea is also important. Past diarrhea can return after the ingestion of those substances that provoked it ( poor quality products food, drugs, bacteria). Having passed the treatment recommended by a specialist, you need to be more attentive to your body. To restore normal work The gastrointestinal tract needs a diet. Its experts recommend observing adult patients, children.

The diet is based on the use of a large volume of liquid. After diarrhea, the patient must follow the basic rules in nutrition:

Eat liquid foods (light mashed potatoes, low-fat soups, broths).
Cereals from cereals should be cooked mucous, semi-mucilaginous. It is forbidden to use large grains so as not to injure the intestinal walls.
You should eat foods containing a lot of fiber (dried fruits, bananas, apples).
Bread should be eaten white, bran.
You can eat lean meat, fish.

From the usual products should be excluded:

vegetables, fruits (fresh);
canned food, smoked meats;
dried products;
tea (green), coffee;
seasonings;
salt, sugar in large quantities;
dairy products;
soda;
fatty food.

Medical treatment for diarrhea

If diarrhea does not go away on the third or fourth day, contact a specialist to find out the cause. After the diagnosis, clarification of the cause that provoked the onset of diarrhea, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Usually it consists in taking such funds:

Sorbents ("Smekta", "Activated carbon").
Antidiarrheals (Imodium, Loperamide).
Preparations aimed at restoring the ionic balance ("Regidron"). They are needed after dehydration.
Pro / prebiotics ("Lineks", "Bifiform"). They are needed to restore the microflora inside the intestines.

If diarrhea has infectious nature development, the specialist prescribes:

Intestinal antiseptics ("Sulgin", "Ftalazol", "Furazolidone").
Antibiotics (macrolides, tetracyclines, amoxicillins).

Do not use these medicines for self-medication with diarrhea. Each of the drugs should be selected taking into account such features as: the condition of the patient, the cause of diarrhea. Medications are prescribed in a course that should be completed to the end, and not stopped after the disappearance unpleasant symptom(diarrhea). Also, do not forget about the diet. It is an important aspect in the treatment of disorders of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.